Circuit controller



Feb. 20, 1940. c, ENDz 2,191,216

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed July 1'7, 1939 4 4 57 Gnnezufi'or \ZRBYREMEMEZ L} c m 4% Breaker i Distribut Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES harem OFFICE 2 illaims.

device for motor vehicles having for its primary purpose to short-circuit the ignition system whenever the oil pressure in the lubricating sys- 5 tem falls below normal.

When a motor is in operation. with an insufficient supply of oil to maintain proper lubrication of the bearings, great damage to the motor occur before the operator becomes aware that anything is wrong. The loss of time, cost of re-- pairs, and possible injury to the perishable cargo frequently carried by motor trucks which may occur when bearings are burnt out for lack of oil are cogent reasons for the use of eilioient means for preventing such mishaps.

The present invention provides an automatic means for closing a circuit whenever during the operation of a motor the oil pressure falls below a predetermined amount. The circuit will normally be open to permit starting of the motor and to permit slow running, but any attempt to speed the motor will cause an immediate closing of the circuit and short-circuiting of the ignition system.

In the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a wiring diagram of the device; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section with parts in elevation of the circuit controller; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device with the cover removed.

As a means for providing a pressure chamber, a cup-shaped casing is formed with a flange 2 to receive a flexible diaphragm 3. An oil-tight washer 4 is interposed between the flange 2 and i the periphery of the diaphragm and superposed upon this periphery, is the flange 5 of a supporting member 6.

A collar 1, rolled or pressed into close contact with the flanges 2 and 5, serves to hold the assembly firmly together without the use of solder, though it will be evident that if it were found necessary or desirable, solder could be used to seal any joint that was defective. The casing I has a threaded stem 8 by which the chamber may be connected with the high pressure lubrication system of an internal combustion engine.

Upon the supporting member 6 is secured an insulator 9 on which is mounted a bracket member H) which may be held upon the insulator by a nut upon the lower end of a bolt H! which forms the iron core for the coil l3 of an electromagnet which has an armature l4 carried by a spring hinge |5 secured upon an upright l6 of the bracket member Ill. Upon the end of the armature remote from the hinge is a contact I1 (01. 123-4465) This invention relates to a circuit controlling adapted to engage a contact IS on a conductor member i9 secured to an insulator mounted on an upright 2| of the bracket member Hi. The lower end of the conductor I9 has a contact 2?. adapted to engage a contact 23 on a stud 24 mounted centrally on the upper surface of the diaphragm 3.

To protect this mechanism from dirt and in jury, a cup-shaped cover 25 is provided having an annular flange 28 for engagement with the collar '5, and havine on its upper surface or outer end two openings for the passage of members 27 and 52%, which serve not only as securing means for the cover but also as conductors forming parts of two circuits, one through the coil l3 and the cther through the armature M. The members 21 and 28 are vinsulated from the cover by washers it of fiber held in place by eyelets 30. The member ill is secured to a flange 3| on the upright l6 which is electrically connected with the armature. The member 28 is mounted on a conductor 32 secured to the insulator member 33 on the support The conductor 32 is secured to one terminal 34 of the wire upon the coil I3. The other terminal 35 of the wire upon the coil is secured to the support 5 which is electrically connected by the metallic collar 1 with the casing I, which is grounded by screwing it into the oil system.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 1 indicates a generator 36 connected by wires 31, 38, and 39 to the conductor 28. The generator is also connected by wire 31 through a cut-out 40 to the primary winding of the coil 42 and thence by wire 4| to the breaker 43. The secondary winding of the coil 42 is connected by wire 44 with the distributor &5 serving the spark plugs 48.

The conductor 27 is also connected with wire 4| With the engine at rest, no current flows from the generator and there is no pressure in. the oil system sufficient to flex the diaphragm 3. The contacts 22 and 23 are together as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, but with the engine at rest, the contacts I? and i8 are separated by the action of the spring l5. When the starter is actuated, the coil 42 will function in its normal manner and the motor will start to turn. Before the current through the coil I3 is strong enough to attract the armature to bring the contacts H and I8 together, the oil pressure in the lubricating system will cause the diaphragm 3 to flex to the broken line position in Fig. 2 to lift the stud 24 to separate contact 23 from contact 22 thus opening the circuit at two places.

The circuit through the wire 31, coil 42, wire 4| I, and conductor 21 is held open at contacts I! and 18 by the action of the spring hinge l5 to permit starting, and then opened at contacts 22 and 23 to permit continued running of the motor after the contacts I! and I8 have been brought together by the electromagnet.

If the oil pressure back of the diaphragm 3 becomes too low, from any cause, such as failure of the pump, leakage of oil, or other diminution of the supply, the diaphragm will move from the broken line position of Fig. 2 to the solid line position, bringing the contact 23 against the contact 22 to close the circuit 31, 42, 4|, 21, l4, l1, l8, I9, 22, 23, 24, 3, I, and l to the ground. With this circuit closed, the breaker 43 will not operate to break the circuit through the primary winding of the coil 42 and the secondary winding will not function to operate the spark plugs. This short-circuiting of the ignition system will cause an immediate slowing down of the motor to a point at which the current from the generator through the coil l3 will be reduced until the spring I5 will act to separate the contacts l1 and [8. The motor can then idle but any attempt to speed up the motor will cause the coil l3 to act to close the short circuit.

This slowing down of the operation of the motor will give the driver an immediate warning that the supply of oil must be replenished.

The closing of the short circuit could obviously be made to ring a bell, to light a lamp, or to actuate other warning signals in a manner familiar in the art, but the interruption of the ignition is preferred since it would automatically protect the motor even in cases where the attendant might be absent, as with stationary motors.

The device is inexpensive to construct, easy to attach, and highly efficient in use.

It will be evident that many changes in form, proportion, design, and arrangement of parts may be made without departure from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a circuit-controlling device for use across the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine having a supply of oil under pressure, the combination of a casing connected with the oil pressure system and having a flexible diaphragm actuated by pressure in said system, a support support and insulated therefrom, a conductor carried by said support and insulated therefrom, said conductor having a contact adjacent to the armature and the armature having a contact normally separated from the contact on said conductor when the coil is inoperative, a contact carried by the diaphragm and electrically connected with the casing, and a contact upon the conductor normally closed upon the contact on the diaphragm when the diaphragm is not flexed by pressure in the casing and separated therefrom when the diaphragm is flexed by pressure.

2. In a circuit-controlling device'for use across the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine having a supply of oil under pressure, the combination of a casing connected with the oil pressure system and having a flexible diaphragm actuated by pressure in said system, contacts interposed across the ignition circuit and arranged to be separated to open a circuit by expansion of the diaphragm under pressure and to be closed by contraction of the diaphragm when the pressure is lowered, other contacts in thesame circuit and an electromagnetic coil having an armature arranged to separate the said contacts when the coil is inactive and to close the contact when the current through the coil is sufficient to actuate the armature.

CHARLIE MENDEZ.

Jill 

